Here at Tindle Newspapers, we know that change is a constant and we have to make the most of every opportunity using the strength of our heritage brands, our digital assets and the trust our communities place in us.
A publisher of ultra-local news brands across Surrey, Hampshire, the Southwest, Wales and the Isle of Man, our print and digital titles include Isle of Man Today, Tavistock Times, the Cornish Times and Farnham Herald.
Local content is our uniqueness, providing our best opportunity to build a positive future around our multiple audiences with consumers paying for access. Our plans are well advanced and we are confident for the future.
The last twelve months have had many challenges ranging from a volatile economy, the uncertainty around the general election and the ever-expanding footprint of the tech giants such as Apple, Google, Meta and the BBC. There is a lot to be positive about, including recruiting staff with new skills in editorial and IT making the company digitally stronger.
We remain upbeat about local publishing. It will continue to change at pace and look different in the future. The organisation is strong, resilient and is determined to face this. The strength of its radio business in the Channel Islands and Republic of Ireland, established events in the Isle of Man and a developing property portfolio, coupled with a supportive owner, means the willpower to succeed has never been greater.
Technology will be at the forefront in enabling local teams to fulfil our ambitions, whether it be maintaining a print portfolio, paid-for newsletters, metered paywalls, apps or ad-lite websites, our strategy is to deliver outstanding products.
There is work to do but the group remains focused on local, rich content and reporting only what is important to the communities that we serve. Maintaining a high street presence is part of our plan to ensure this continues to be achieved.
We are quickly growing our digital audiences and products, whilst at the same time continuing to sustain our resilient print titles, which whilst impacted by the digital revolution, remain valued in the regions we serve.
Our news websites have been updated with modern designs to enhance the user experience and increase digital engagement. The layouts were modernised to improve visits across all devices and to reduce page loading times while encouraging repeat visits.
Sales is all about creating compelling propositions across all our commercial platforms that connect local businesses with our audiences. We know it is vital that we continue to drive commercial engagement, offering new opportunities to local businesses to connect with their customers. This must be done while maintaining our core print revenue.
Tindle Newspapers is a company where more and more people are getting the opportunity to learn both modern and traditional skills including reporting, digital publishing, print, broadcasting and video creation, much of which can be achieved on our multimedia apprenticeship scheme.
Our brands will continue to evolve, but the focus on localness and trust will remain at the heart of what we do.
This article was first published in the Publishing Partners Guide 2025, which was distributed with the January / February 2025 issue of InPublishing magazine. You can register to receive InPublishing magazine here.
